December 9, 2013 (KANSAS CITY, MO) – During today’s last scheduled meeting of the year, the Jackson County Legislature officially adopted the county’s operating budget for 2014. The $296.3 million budget is $3.9 million less than 2013 and marks the seventh straight year that the county budget has been reduced.

The 2014 budget includes no increase to the county property tax levy. Other highlights include funding for renovations to the Jackson County Courthouse Annex in Independence and relocation and renovation of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office headquarters.

“This budget is an example of the sensible and fiscally responsible government we have built in Jackson County,” said County Executive Mike Sanders. “Rather than asking the citizens for more, we instead have committed ourselves to hard work, collaboration, and innovation in order to meet the challenges we face today as well as the priorities that we must address for our future.”